Reed picking perfect time to get it going

March 22nd, 2017

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Another day, another Reds starter doing all he can to earn one of three open spots in the Opening Day rotation.
It was 's turn to make an impression Tuesday, and the left-hander delivered 5 2/3 scoreless in Tuesday's 9-1 loss to the Angels. Reed struck out five, walked two and held a lineup full of regulars to one hit.
"He was sensational," manager Bryan Price said. "He had it all going, all three pitches today."
Reed is competing with six other pitchers for a rotation job.
"I'm right there with them, I'm going to go for it, too," said Reed, who lowered his Cactus League ERA to 3.24. "If I keep doing that, I'll keep putting myself in the best position. I'll get the ball in five days and try again."
With just under two weeks before the regular season begins, Reed picked the right time for his best outing of the spring.
"It's starting to get down to that time and he's continuing to impress," Price said. "It was a good but important start for him."
Reed was scheduled to pitch five innings, but the Angels had two left-handers due up in the top of the sixth, so he returned to the mound. Reed got to ground out to first and then he fanned .
With Angels star due up, Price emerged from the dugout and headed for the mound. Reed had reached his pitch count, and Price signaled for non-roster reliever .
"As soon as Price walked out there, I was frustrated with myself because I think I threw too many pitches to get to the third guy, which was Trout," Reed said. "You're not going to let me get this guy out? He said, 'I want Mitchell to get it.'"
Trout struck out looking to end the inning. While Reed was happy for his teammate, as a competitor he naturally wanted to face the two-time American League MVP.
"I wanted to get him out," Reed said. "Who doesn't want to pitch against him?"
Reed is competing with , , , , and for the three available rotation spots. Price has said they are not all on equal footing, though he has not publicly revealed the pecking order.
With performances like Tuesday's, Reed is making management's roster decisions all the more difficult.